Written question asked by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Friday, 17 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 June 2002. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Thursday, 20 June 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what medical conditions confer NHS prescription charge exemption; and in which year they were made exempt. - Includes list.

Answer: Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical conditions confer NHS prescription charge exemption; and in which year they were made exempt. [58355] Mr. Lammy: The medical conditions conferring exemption from prescription charge were introduced in 1968 and are set out in the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2000. They are: 1. permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance; 2. the following disorders: forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism diabetes mellitus--except where treatment is by diet alone hypoparathyroidism myasthenia gravis myxoedema 3. epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy; 4. a continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving his residence without the help of another person.

Secondary information